It started off as a battle of wits. Me: the ordinary girl with a big mouth against Him: the sexy bastard with a big...ego.

I thought I’d hit the jackpot when I was upgraded to first class on my flight to London.

That is until HE sat down next to me. Gabriel Scott: handsome as sin, cold as ice. Nothing and no one gets to him. Ever. He’s a legend in his own right, the manager of the biggest rock band in the world, and an arrogant ass who looks down his nose at me.

I thought I’d give him hell for one, long flight. I didn’t expect to like him. I didn’t expect to want him. But the biggest surprise? He wants me too. Only in a way I didn’t see coming.

If I accept his proposal, I leave myself open to falling for the one man I can’t manage. But I’m tempted to say yes. Because the real man beneath those perfect suits and that cool façade just might be the best thing that’s ever happened to me. And I just might be the only one who can melt the ice around his heart.

I stroll toward the bedroom but
come to an abrupt halt at the threshold. For a second, I can only gape at the
sight that greets me. It’s so shocking, I turn around to check whether there
are cameras rolling and I’m being punked.

“Why are you looking about like
that?” Gabriel drawls, not taking his eyes from the TV.

“Just checking to make sure I
hadn’t wandered into an alternate reality.”

“Amusing as always, Darling.”

Who could blame me for being
suspicious? Gabriel Scott is out of his suit and wearing a soft, gray
long-sleeve thermal and black sweats. This is shocking enough—but at least I’ve
seen it before. The fact that he’s lounging in his bed, while eating some sort
of dessert out of a bowl, is what has me flabbergasted.

“You’re staring,” he says dryly
as he…

“Are you watching Buffy?” My
voice has a tinge of a squeal.

He rolls his eyes. “Deal with
it.”

“I’m just so…” My hand flutters
to my chest. “Are you sure I’m not being punked?”

A snort escapes him. “You’re not
famous, so no. I, on the other hand, have my moments of doubt that you aren’t
here to punk me.”

I’m so happy, I have to fight
grinning like a loon as I kick off my shoes and crawl onto the end of the bed.
“If I were to punk you, I’d change out all your suits for polyester.”

At that, his eyes finally slide
to mine, and his skin actually pales. “That’s just cruel, Darling.”

“Stop calling me that.” I steal
his spoon.

“It’s your name.”

“Are you sure that’s what you’re
calling me by?” I ask suspiciously, as he moves his bowl out of reach.

“What else would I be doing?”
There’s a glint in his eye that leads me to answer in a sing-song voice.

“A term of endearment? Declaring
your undying lurve for me.”

His nose wrinkles. “You’re going
to put me off my pudding.”

“Pudding? Is that what you’re
eating?” I lunge for the bowl, but he’s too quick, and I end up sprawled across
his chest.

We both go still, me clutching
the spoon in one hand, my other palm pressed against the firm swell of his pec,
him with one arm still outstretched, his other one pinned beneath me.

His breathing goes deep and
strong as he peers down at me. My attention drifts to his lips, beautifully
sculpted and softly parted. How would he kiss? Would he start off slow, taking
little nibbles, testing the waters? Or would he be the type to go all in,
possess my mouth with his?

Heat floods my body, fluttering
through my belly.

Gabriel’s lids lower, and his
breath catches.

In the background, someone is
shouting Buffy’s name. It’s enough to snap me out of whatever fog that touching
Gabriel has pulled me into.

With an audible swallow, he
slowly takes the spoon from my hand. I don’t look away from his eyes as he
scoops up a bit of the crumble.

The spoon shakes just
a little. Cool metal slides over my lower lip, and hot crumble fills my mouth.
I barely suppress a moan, my lips closing around the spoon as he slowly draws
it back out. He grunts in response, a short, helpless sort of sound that he
quickly smothers.

GRAPHIC TEASER

KRISTEN CALLIHAN

Kristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she’d rather be. She is a three-time RITA nominee and winner of two RT Reviewer’s Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine’s Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal , best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher’s Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.

SUL MIO COMODINO

A standalone, contemporary romance about the ultimate forbidden love...

He’s thirty-eight. I’m twenty-three.

He speaks Spanish. I speak English.

He lives in Spain. I live in Canada.

He dresses in thousand-dollar suits. I’m covered in tattoos.

He’s married and has a five-year old daughter.

I’m single and can’t commit to anyone or anything.

Until now.Because when they say you can’t choose who you fall in love with, boy ain’t that the damn truth.

***

To a restless dreamer like Vera Miles, it sounded like the experience of a lifetime. Instead of spending her summer interning for her astronomy major, she would fly to Spain where she’d spend a few weeks teaching conversational English to businessmen and women, all while enjoying free room and board at an isolated resort. But while Vera expected to get a tan, meet new people and stuff herself with wine and paella, she never expected to fall in love.

Mateo Casalles is unlike anyone Vera has ever known, let alone anyone she’s usually attracted to. While Vera is a pierced and tatted free spirit with a love for music and freedom, Mateo is a successful businessman from Madrid, all sharp suits and cocky Spanish charm. Yet, as the weeks go on, the two grow increasingly close and their relationship changes from purely platonic to something…more.